Reviews by henleyboy

Latest Accommodation Reviews

I don't like giving perfect scores, but I cant fault this place at all. My wife and I stayed here over Christmas and we had an absolutely fantastic time. Christian, the very welcoming and laid back host, put on a great Christmas eve BBQ/party for all the guests and a good time was had by all. The charming hostal, which is well laid out and has fast wifi available throughout, is in an ideal, quiet location in a happening Boho area of Santiago not far from the centre. Having a nice breakfast and coffee in the outdoor setting was a really nice way to start the day. Christian was extremely helpful prior to and during our stay.This place is excellent value for money. If we ever get back to Santiago, I know exactly where I'll be looking to stay.

The hosts, Luis, Alba and family make this a wonderful place to stay. Both Luis and Alba speak very good english, but I enjoyed practicing my spanish with Luis - he is very patient. The breakfast is amazing - granola c yoghurt, fresh fruit and great coffee (from their farm), bread with various spreads, cooked eggs as you like and a fresh fruit juice. Location is in the historical centre with small local eateries and a bar nearby. If you inform them early in the day, they will prepare a dinner for you at the lodging. Central market is also just down the road. Touristy bars and cafes are a short taxi ride away in the new town. We were stuck inside the lodging all day during the national census so Luis and family made fresh pizzas for all the guests. Loved the place and the people too!

A few of the good points first.Augur is one of the cheapest hostels in BA. Double room we had was serviced daily. Staff are very helpful. Security is good. Included breakfast is nice (coffee, juice, croissants, toast). Inside smoking area (atrium).Now the not so good.Location is on a very busy/noisy road. Our double room had a balcony onto this road with a security screen shutter which keeps all the light out but not the noise. On that point, bring some heavy duty ear-plugs if you want to sleep at night. If it's not the traffic noise, it's the party all night guests (to 6am!). There is no curfew here which may please some but not those who might actually want to sleep in the hostel. Some rooms come off the common area (ours included). Kitchen was on 3rd floor and a mess - unusable. Luckily there is a fridge and microwave on the 1st that you can use. Top floor terrace wasn't very inviting - looked like it hadn't been used for quite a while. Wifi worked on and off but when it was on it was quite slow.

The villa is located in a nice bohemian area of Santa Teresa. Within a short walking distance there are a few bars / restaurants and the must do tram to the centre. Supermarket is down a steep hill but only about 5 mins each way. The Villa has a beautiful terrace area with a view over the centre of Rio. This is where they serve the breakfast in the mornings and have a bar service at night. There is wifi available throughout the hostel. The room we had was spacious and cool in the hot Rio climate although this came at a cost of being a bit damp and musty. The host, Paul, regularly puts on parties on the terrace area which is under cover in case of the unpredictable Rio weather. The best complement that we can give this place is that we have already booked another stay there when we return through Rio.